Would this pizz you off?

Today Damien was giving me a really hard time while we were doing his homework. He keeps telling me he can't "learn". I keep telling him he is always learning that is what school is for. He then tells me that his lunch room teacher told him he "never learns" so that's why he can't learn.

I know that Damien is no angel and more than likely he was misbehaving when she said this, but why would anyone who is an authority figure say this to a 5 year old? They take everything literally. I am so mad I could punch this wretched woman!!!!!!

Re: Would this pizz you off?

yes, that would pi ss me off.

poor damien.

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As a former preschool teacher, I certainly think this teacher could have used a better choice of words. You are right, young children take everything literally, and don't get when someone is using a figure of speech. Your poor little boy!

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Are you sure that what she says? it sounds odd to me as a teacher....

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Yeah that would annoy me. I'd probably mention it to his regular teacher and see what she says

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As a teacher who sees how HARD a lunch aide's job is (kids at lunch are TOUGH to deal with!!), I'd probably let it slide. Maybe take the approach of explaining to Damien that the lunch aide probably said it out of frustration and that it's just a "saying" and what it means.

Re: Would this pizz you off?

I don't know, as a teacher and a mother of a five yr old I am not so sure what the big deal is here. Yes it was inappropriate, but the statement may have been made in regards to a specific behavior. As a teacher in a classroom, I would never say that, but in the lunch room, I can see a difference. Maybe the aide was really frustrated with something he is doing repeatedly?

To me that particular statement is no big deal, but I would want my son to understand what it was intended to mean. In otherwords, I would be calling the school and finding out what my son was doing repeatedly to warrant that statement. Then I would make sure he stopped. I would then be proving that my son can learn. If I found out that there was no valid reason for the statement, I would still probably let it go. At that point the aide would have already figured out your concern and probably decided to be more careful about what they say to your son.

Message edited 6/4/2009 8:09:16 PM.

Re: Would this pizz you off?

Yes, absolutely that would p1ss me off. Who is she to tell your son that he'll never learn?
Geez...

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Honestly, No, it would not.
for Example, if he gets up alot during lunch and then he gets up again and spills something, I could see her saying, you never learn.

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I read this on your facebook page...
Ummmm yeah, if something a teacher said internally hurt my child and was not correct to say in the first place...I would be livid. I think anyone who works with children should pick and choose their words carefully. children have creative minds and perceive things very differently. IMO...at the least maybe she should appologize for making him feel this way. he is only 5. No need to ridicule a 5 yr old.

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Re: Would this pizz you off?

Teachers and those who work with children have very hard jobs and just as we as parents say things that come out the wrong way or aren't the best choice of words, so do they. Working with children requires a lot of patience and it gets very trying at times. If our own one or two children frustrate us at times, imagine 10s or 100s of children on a daily basis.

To me, if it was said in regards to something the child should know by now, for ex "walk to the left of the table with your lunch, etc" then I could see someone frustratedly telling a child "You never learn, I tell you to walk on this side every day."

I doubt she meant it as though he is incapable of learning in general. So based on the most likely senario, it would not annoy me. Children do understand certain phrases literally and this is likely what happened in this case. I would definitely find out what he was doing that would make her say that to him. If he does the same thing everyday that warrants correction, it may not be something big enough to bother you with, but it still warrants being said. She just used a phrase he wasn't capable of understanding and in that case, she used a poor choice of words to a 5 year old, her bad. Def find out more if you need to, to explain the senario to him and why it was said and what it really meant.

Message edited 6/4/2009 11:57:46 PM.

Re: Would this pizz you off?

Posted by InShock

As a teacher who sees how HARD a lunch aide's job is (kids at lunch are TOUGH to deal with!!), I'd probably let it slide. Maybe take the approach of explaining to Damien that the lunch aide probably said it out of frustration and that it's just a "saying" and what it means.

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Since its a 5 year old, yes it would pizz me off, b/c they take things literally.. she should know this. If it was said to a 13 yr old, then no I wouldnt.

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I teach dance and I don't think I have ever said "you never learn" to my kids but I have said things along the same lines. And it's not in terms of their dancing, it's in terms that my little girls love to hang on the ballet bars. I tell them weekly not to do it, that they are not monkey bars and they can get hurt- but they continue to do it. so I have said thigs like, " seriously, why must I tell you ever week not to do that. The rules don't change from weekto week." I think the aide may have just chosen her words poorly, I'm sure she didn't mean to hurt your son. But in response to the original question, yes, I would be upset that my kid's feelings were hurt. But I wouldn't do anything about it other than talkto my own child.